Unions accuse Tata of hypocrisy over Port Talbot closure ‘green’ claims

Owner says shutting Welsh blast furnaces will cut emissions, but it is opening a huge new one in India

The owner of the Port Talbot steelworks has been accused of “gross hypocrisy” as it prepares to open a new blast furnace in India, while citing a cut in carbon emissions for its decision to close two blast furnaces in south Wales, costing thousands of jobs.

Tata announced last week that up to 2,800 jobs would be cut under plans to close Port Talbot’s two huge blast furnaces and replace them with an electric arc furnace.